Many Blessings

Some wonderful news came today that will vastly improve my and a family member's life. Once again, we have been saved from hitting the bottom of despair, and we will have a long list of people to thank! Christmas will be arriving early as gifts of human hands and hearts helping in every way possible. I am starting to have hope again, and faith in something.

Art-wise things are still slow but my art quilts are hanging up at the Eagle Creek Coffee Company in our little town. If you're in Zionsville, come by Plum's and hear Nancy Clark playing beautiful tunes on the piano, on Saturday nights.

My studio life will be interrupted again for a time, due to a temporary move, but I can still draw in a sketchbook each day.

Peaceful thoughts,

Betsy

Black Days Getting Grayer

I'm still trying to climb out of the surreal black hole my family and I fell into a few weeks ago!

A piece of the puzzle has now been put into it's proper place, and we hope 'it' stays there for many years!!!!!!!! The havoc 'it' created will never be fully resolved, but at least we can go on with our lives. We had a day-before-Thanksgiving- 'miracle' last week, and we are all relieved.

Each day is one step closer to being in the light again.

We have so many wonderful people to be grateful to and thankful for and we are truely lucky! We celebrated Thanksgiving with some good friends, and I enjoyed a TOFURKY, while the carnivores ate their meat snacks!


I finally started working on art again- the last few weeks just were too crazy and messed up to even begin, so it was such a great feeling to be back in my new little studio playing with fabrics
and getting lost in colors and ideas! Ahhhh.........Art therapy at it's best! I hope to have a few
more days of meditative peace and quiet. With two dogs and two cats in the house, some days
are wacko, and fur is flying! It's been too long since I had time to THINK about my art, and
where I'd like to be with it in the next year. I hope to get back to projects I've stuffed away.
For me it's so easy to lose that magical thread that can keep an artist going, and hope alive.

As grandfather always said, "Keep going"

Peace- Betsy

New Plans

I'm down to 1.5 addresses now, soon to be just one. This year has been one of constant change, with my plans switching every 5 minutes! My intellectual side knows this is the way of life, and necessary for growth, but my emotional side still wants some familiarity and sameness. My favorite quote is by Santayana- "There is wisdom in turning as often as possible from the familiar to the unfamiliar: It fosters humor, kills prejudge, and keeps the mind nimble." I'm learning to repeat that to myself often. A few days ago someone in my family suffered a big loss in many ways, and the shockwaves have run far and wide, to include some of my plans. We are left to pick up the pieces and keep moving........At least we have the substantial love & support of family and friends. And new plans......

My art has gone into hiding for the last couple of weeks, but I have managed to get a little done, and will be taking some work up to Frankfort, Indiana, tomorrow, for a show that runs this weekend (Nov. 9,10,11).
The photo is of a bag/purse prototype that I recently finished, and want to make more of. Each one will be different, 'cause
I hate to make duplicates of my stuff!

Thought for the day- Embrace change or be miserable!
Peace, Betsy

Fish Lips

I was a lazy blogger this last month - NO posts!

I'm living like a gypsy these days, staying at three places in three different towns, so I can't always get to a computer. Sometimes it's fun to move around so much, but I do get tired of living out of a suitcase at times. Samantha is happy as long as she has food, a bed, and daily walks. Wish I was that easily pleased all the time! I do watch the sunrise each morning to get my lithium "fix" though. I once read something about people in ancient civilizations used to do that to feel happy. What if we could get as many people as possible to do that each day around the world? Would we begin to see more PEACE on Earth, and less warfare?

I have been busy with my artwork though; painting on one art quilt, hand-quilting on another, and assembling the pieces on a third, which is in the photo above - a rainbow trout-ish fish.

I found out this last week I've been accepted into a big show at the Frankfort Library, in Frankfort, In. It's their annual Christmas show, and is an opportunity to sell my work as well as raise money for the library. (Always a worthy cause) Cross your fingers that they sell! I'll put two quilts in; Sugar Daddy and Spring Beauties. Both are illustrated, hand-painted pieces with birds as the subject. I also just sold a few pieces I have at a gallery in Lafayette, Susie Gibbs. One small step at a time!

I will also be displaying my quilts for the month of December, at the Eagle Creek Coffee Company in Zionsville, In. Come by for coffee and a biscotti and enjoy the rotating gallery of artwork they have. Zionsville is an upscale funky little town now: when I lived there in the 80's it was a 'snoozer' town.

This week I ate lunch with my friends Kim and Barb at The Abbey, in Indy. It's a favorite place to go because they have LOTS of vegan and vegetarian delights on the menu! Also great coffee and desserts. I dream about their carrot cake! It's not vegan, but worth the splurge now & then. It's one of the best, if not the best I've ever had, and they serve you a HUGE piece! I can't eat it all by myself, which is saying a lot if you know what a dessert-addict I am!

Eat your veggies!
Peace, Betsy

Dogs & Corn, but not Corndogs!

My first blog post after finally getting a browser that works with Blogger!

I created this blog to show my artwork while I work on a website, and to find other artists and friends. All art and opinions are my own, unless noted, so you don't have to like or agree with either. I welcome thoughtful & philosophical discussions on almost anything- but please leave hate and anger out of it.

I recently relocated from a nearby state, and right now things look almost the same up here. Hot, dry and crops everywhere. Corn to the left, corn to the right... sounds like Jimmy Buffett's song 'FINS'. In my last state it was mostly tobacco, which you can actually see over.

I chose the name of my blog for two reasons: I lean that direction politically, and I find myself wanting to give driving directions by the phrase, "turn left/right at the cornfield." So what will I do in the winter?

The dogs in this photo all like me but chose to remain anonymous, due to the Canine Witness Protection Program! The black labrador in the middle is mine and just had her 9th birthday. Old as dirt, but she's still feisty and I love that about her!

One last note- I'd like to say "Thank You" again to my family and friends who've helped me through a major life change this year. You are the BEST!
Peace, Betsy